The Reason The Garage Floor Paint Has Begun To Peel Away

By Gerry Patterson

Whenever you first realize that your epoxy garage floor paint has begun to peel, your initial reaction may be to place blame to the product itself. I mean, if the coating is tarnishing, then it has to be some cheap, ripoff product, correct? Well, not necessarily so. In truth, this "cheap" and "inferior" floor coating normally won't peel, dull, crack or even wear away. Most likely, if your garage flooring is having a peeling problem, it is more of a moisture problem.

Epoxy Garage Floor Paint Keeps Moisture Out...And In.

Garage floor paint will certainly protect the concrete from any moisture in the air, but it do nothing against moisture that comes from underneath. Epoxy, by design, creates a seal that is nearly impenetrable by moisture of any kind. When oil drips onto the floor, this is a good thing because that means it will not get past the paint, so will not be absorbed by the concrete, and can therefore be sprayed off.

Concrete Absorbs Liquids

Since the concrete for your garage floor sits underground, both its sides and bottom are able to absorb any liquids that they find there. Even if something were to somehow get to the concrete there to stain it, you'd never see the actual stain, so the primary worry is water. Unfortunately, this water that is absorbed into the concrete must evaporate. That wonderful epoxy garage floor seal suddenly becomes its own worst enemy. It's a dual edged sword: it will keep the moisture in just as it keeps moisture out. As the water rises through the concrete, it begins to create bubbles under the garage floor paint. As the bubbles expand, they will eventually burst, causing the dreaded epoxy paint peeling.

Humidity Kills Garage Floor Paint

There are some area related factors that cause the dreaded peeling effect. Generally speaking, humidity plays a leading role. If you live in an area that is humid, most everything will stay damp, along with the earth under the concrete and also any wood that has not been treated that garages are commonly made of. Your concrete garage floor will absorb the moisture from these sources. But this situation can be increased fiercely when water pools from the concrete any where around your garage.

Ground Water Is Water, Too

The amount of your local water table is able affect your garage floor coating. Put frankly, a water table means the surface of ground water. When a water table is high, ground water is near the bottom of the concrete garage floor and means that it is likely that water will soak through. Take notice if the soil in your area stays damp even when in the midst of a drought. It is likely that your water table is high. - 29952

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